Review: Maid Of Stone 2026 – Day 1

Mote Park, Maidstone – July 17^th, 2026

Reviewer – Phil Honley

Photographers – Phil Honley & Dan Mann

Maid Of Stone returned for it’s fourth year. Chris Wright had been very busy these last twelve months building, happily considering recommendations put forward and compiling a worthy line up of artists falling within the ‘legendary’, ‘established’ and ‘promising breakthrough’ categories for 2026.

The one thing Chris Wright couldn’t sort out was the weather but boy it was baking hot, but glorious, for the entire weekend and we couldn’t have wished for more.

Aussie Cassidy Paris opened the festival on the Main Stage, aptly named The Inferno Stage. I had previously seen this young lady at Planet Rockstock in 2023 and it was interesting then to see her father, Steve Janevski from Wicked Smile, playing along side her in the band on guitar on that occasion. Father Steve wasn’t around this time but Cassidy had a great band nontheless with Jordan Smith on guitar, Sons Of Liberty‘s Fred Hale on bass and Pete Newdeck on drums. It was a great way to get this festival on the road.

Bournemouth based Regional One opened the weekend’s proceedings on The Firestarter Stage. A band I must admit I hadn’t even heard of until they were announced on this years billing and Simon Ball (Vocals), Stevie Lees (Guitar), Callum Mitchell (Bass)and Aaron Levens (Drums) certainly hit the ground running. 

Cassidy Paris

Anthony Gomes first impressed me way back in 2008 when I came across his live album which included the very funky ‘Bluebird‘ and an excellent cover of Free‘s ‘Heartbreaker‘. It’s always frightening when you cast your mind back to discover when you first or had last seen an artist and it was no different when I found that it was seven years ago that I first saw Gomes. To be fair he has regularly visited the UK, as he has a great respect for the following he has here, but the stars never alligned and I always seemed to miss him. He sensibly plays modest pub stages and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity to display his talent on the main stage at a very popular festival.

Jacob Mreen on bass and Christopher Whited on drums provided a real powerhouse rhythm unit and the trio, it has to be said, went down a storm. They finished a tremendous set with ‘Whole Lotta Love‘.

Anthony Gomes

Next up I had to make the difficult decision, Devere on the Firestarter Stage or do I chance my luck in catching a glimpse of Jack J Hutchinson on the VIP stage. It was a tough call but I had seen Jack on many ocassions and will be seeing him again at his new album launch show in London in February so Devere it was.

Jack J Hutchinson

I was introduced to DeVere last year when they played Planet Rock’s Winter’s End Festival. The band includes Will Vaughan (Bass), Sam Cassidy (Vocals),  (Guitar) and George Love (Drums). If you could ever visualise a band that was the epitome of a true rock and roll band, these guys would be it. Sam Cassidy certainly won the award for having the best pecs on show this weekend. Excellent set despite the early mic failure.

DeVere

Sometimes things just do not turn out as planned. This was indeed the case when I first saw German rockers, The New Roses. The band arrived just in time for their set having departed Frankfurt but losing contact with their full kit in Amsterdam.  No such trouble this time, however, and the band, being Timmy Rough (Vocals / Guitar), Norman Bites (Guitar), Hardy (Bass) and Urban Berz (Drums) really raised the bar on the main stage. The band appreciated that many would not be familiar with their own material so they threw in a couple of covers, Neil Young‘s ‘Rockin’ in the Free World‘ certainly got everyone sweating in the heat of the day.

The New Roses

Sam Morrow very successfully raised his profile in the UK when he supported Robert Jon And The Wreck earlier this year and I was really excited and looking forward to seeing him again. He didn’t disappoint and he certainly attracted an audience. He finished a great set with a cover of Pink Floyd‘s ‘Have A Cigar‘. 

Sam Morrow

FM are always festival favourites and not sure if it’s my imagination but are they not forever touring? Having said that they are always festival favourites and never disappoint.

FM

Again, I have another decision to make, Morganway on the Firestarter stage or Juliet’s Not Dead on the VIP stage. I hadn’t at this stage been aware of the improved stage within the VIP area so I opted for Morganway.

A blend of folk and thunderous Americana rock I really enjoyed the diversity that this band brought to the festival. Fronted by the powerhouse vocals of SJ Mortimer with Kieran Morgan on lead guitar, Nicole J Terry’s electrifying fiddle, Matt Brocklehurst on keys, and the driving rhythms of Ed ‘Steady’ Bullinger on drums.

Morganway

I was pleased when I saw that Nashville based A Thousand Horses was on this year’s billing having seen them for the first time last year. A great band on album and I was a little disappointed when I saw them last year as the sound did not do them any favours.

Sound was spot on this time and we were treated to an excellent performance from these guys. The loss of founding member and guitarist Zach Brown seems to have focused them on a rockier sound….I like.

A Thousand Horses

Crow Black Chicken, what can I say, it has been way too long since they ventured over the Irish Sea to play for us. I have missed the humorous tales that lead singer Christy O’Hanlon brings us and the excellent rhythm section of Stephen McGrath ( Bass ) and Gev Barrett ( Drums ).

A shortish set didn’t allow time for many of Christy‘s humourous stories, apart from the William The Conquerer sharing mantlepiece room with the Pope one, but the band went down a treat.

Crow Black Chicken

The Temperance Movement, I guess the band’s return last year must have been a bit of a surprise to most Temperance Movement fans in view of the way it fell apart in 2019. Very similar to the Oasis story, a major falling out that never showed signs that a reconciliation was ever possible.

The band obviously did not appreciate how welcome the reunion would be as the original venue was going to be the 800 capacity Scala, which was subsequently upgraded to the 1,500 capacity Koko Camden and again to the 2,300 capacity O2 Forum Kentish Town such was the demand for tickets.

Phil Campbell was on top form that night and he must have kicked his demons into touch as he again was on fire tonight. Absolute peach of a headline set which included all of the favourites and a couple from forthcoming new release ‘New Promise Land Incorporated‘ with the main set closing with new single ‘Eat You Alive‘. 

The Temperance Movement

Well that was a great climax to a perfectly formed first day.

©All photographs are copyright of Phil Honley – Gigsnapz & Dan Mann – RPR Photography. They may not be altered or used without express permission.